Posted by Marty Neilan on June 14, 2000 at 00:55:11:
In Reply to: New and Improved F Tuba discussion posted by Joseph Felton on June 14, 2000 at 00:37:41:
Although you seem partial to rotary valves, I will make this suggestion:
Don't discount the Yamaha F tubas. They are a little high in price now, but there are almost always used ones available. The YFB621 is a great all around 3/4 F for solos, chamber, quintet, and light orchestra (and has a very free blowing low range for a small looking F) while the YFB822 is a larger and very full sounding F that can almost be a small CC while still maintining the flexibility and high register agility of an F.
Many pros play on Yamaha F's - the tone quailities of Yamaha brass seem to lend themselves better to F tubas than bigger horns (although I have heard good things about their new rotary CC, haven't tried one yet).
My 2 cents (well, 2.546 in today's currency).
Marty Neilan